Agnes is a Christian martyr who died at Rome
around 304 in the persecution of Diocletian: the last and fiercest
of the persecutions of Christianity by the Roman emperors. The
anniversary of her martyrdom is observed on 21 January. Her name
means "pure" in Greek and "lamb" in Latin.
She is said to have been only about twelve or thirteen when she
died, and the remains preserved in St Agnes' Church in Rome are
in agreement with this. It is said that her execution shocked
many Romans and helped bring an end to the persecutions.

Some said, "It is contrary to Roman law
to put a virgin to death. Our leaders say that it is necessary
to kill Christians in order to preserve the old Roman ways: but
they are themselves scorning those ways in the process."

Others said, "Do young girls constitute
such a threat to Rome that it is necessary to kill them?"

Others said, "If this religion can enable
a twelve-year-old girl to meet death without fear, it is worth
checking out."

There is a narrative poem by Keats, called
"The Eve of Saint Agnes." It is a romantic poem with
a mediaeval setting, about an elopement the night before St Agnes'
Day. The only tie-in with Agnes is that (presumably because she
died as a young virgin), Agnes is regarded as the patron of young
unmarried girls, and there is a folk-belief that a girl who goes
to bed supperless on the eve of St Agnes's Day will dream that
night about her husband-to-be.

written by James Kiefer

Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, who choose those
whom the world deems powerless to put the powerful to shame:
Grant us so to cherish the memory of your youthful martyr Agnes,
that we may share her pure and steadfast faith in you; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.